Quick Release System for Accessory Pouches Carried by Ballistic Vest

ABSTRACT

a first plurality of vertically spaced apart horizontal rows of flexible material attached at intervals to the back panel of the vest defining a sequence of vertically oriented loops,
         a pad having means for connection to an accessory pouch,   a second plurality of vertically spaced apart horizontal rows of flexible material attached at intervals to the pad defining a sequence of vertically oriented loops, whereby the second plurality of rows is adapted to engage the vertical spaces between the first plurality of rows where the loops in the second plurality of rows are laterally offset from the loops in the first plurality of rows by a distance equal to the thickness of the webbing,   a pair of retaining straps comprising the legs of a U and having an interconnecting base member and where the legs are each interlaced sequentially through the offset loops of the first and second plurality of rows,   a release strap having proximal and distal ends carried within one shoulder panel and having a pull ring attached to the proximal end and where the distal end is attached to the base member of the U.

The present invention relates to a system associated with a ballistic vest for creating a releasable attachment of accessories to the vest.

BACKGROUND

Ballistic, or armor carrying garments, namely vests, are worn by law enforcement and military personnel to protect their upper bodies from bullets and shrapnel. Activities where these types of threats are present also require the carrying of additional equipment such as radios and flashlights which must be accessed frequently and quickly. These types of equipment are usually carried on the front of the vest. Other types of necessary equipment that are not as frequently used may be attached to the back of the vest, such as a first-aid kit or a food pouch. When it becomes necessary to access accessories carried on the back of the vest it is probably not a propitious time or there is no opportunity to remove the vest and detach the desired accessory from the back of the vest. Accordingly, it is the primary object of the present invention to provide a releasable attachment for back mounted accessories that may be quickly activated by a pull handle or other mechanism that is easily accessibly on the front of the vest.

U.S. Pat. No. 8,453,899 to Catkin discloses a quick release strap attachment for releasably securing an article to a support surface but the Catkin system does not contemplate that the accessory being released is attached to the carrier at a location that is literally inaccessible to the wearer and must be released by a handle or ring removed from the attachment and immediately and easily accessible to the wearer. Furthermore, applicant has significantly improved and simplified the Catkin attachment and release features.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a quick release system for pouches and accessories carried on the back of a ballistic vest. The vest utilizes MOLLE/PALS webbing on the front and back of the vest to facilitate attachment of necessary equipment and accessory pouches, such as a first aid kit which is preferably attached to the back of the vest because it is infrequently needed. When it is needed it is desirable to have immediate access and the combination of the present invention provides the necessary quick release of the pouch, or kit, from the back side of the vest, thus eliminating cumbersome handling. The MOLLE/PALS webbing on the back side of the vest cooperates with similar webbing on the pouch that creates a series of vertically disposed loops through which a pair of retaining straps are interwoven to secure the pouch to the back of the vest. The retaining straps are connected to a pull handle on the front of the vest by a release strap that traverses inside the panels of material that comprise the body of the vest.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a quartering frontal view of the ballistic vest of the present invention as it would appear when worn by an individual.

FIG. 2 is a view of the back of the vest of the present invention when worn by an individual.

FIG. 3a is a fragmentary view of the vest with emphasis on the pouch releasing pull ring prior to it being pulled.

FIG. 3b is similar to FIG. 3a except that the releasing pull ring has been pulled by the individual wearing the vest.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the vest showing the double retaining straps and the release strap in dotted lines in their pouch retaining position. The pouch is not shown for clarity.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the vest showing the double retaining straps and the release strap in dotted lines in their release position after the pull handle has be pulled.

FIG. 6a is a cross sectional view of the accessory pouch, the MOLLE/PALS webbing on the back of the vest and on the outer side of the interconnecting pad of the pouch and one of the two retaining straps interwoven in the loops of the two sets of webbing to releasably retain the accessory pouch on the back of the vest.

FIG. 6b is a cross sectional view of the accessory pouch, similar to FIG. 6a except that the retaining strap has been pulled, releasing the accessory pouch from its attachment to the back of the vest.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The ballistic vest 5 of the present invention is shown generally by the frontal view of FIG. 1 and the rear view of FIG. 2 as comprising a front chest and abdomen panel 8, a back panel 10 and interconnecting shoulder panels 12 and 14. The front panel and back panel are provided with traditional modular lightweight load-carrying equipment (“MOLLE”), also known as pouch attachment ladder system (“PALS”), each of which comprises a plurality of horizontal rows of one inch nylon webbing members 16 vertically spaced one inch apart, and attached to the panels at one and one half inch intervals 18, defining a sequence of vertically oriented loops 20. When worn, the chest and back panels are interconnected by hook and loop connectors on a cummerbund 23.

As anticipated by the MOLLE/PALS webbing, the front chest and abdomen panel 8 is used to attach frequently used equipment such as a radio, whereas the back panel MOLLE may be used to attach less frequently used pouches or accessories such as a first-aid kit 25. Although less frequently used, when the need arises it is important that the one wearing the vest does not have to fumble with detaching the accessory which is located inconveniently on the wearer's back. In operation of the present invention the wearer simply pulls the pull ring 28 that depends from the shoulder and the first-aid kit is immediately released and falls away from the back panel.

In order to provide quick release of the kit on activation of the pull handle, several novel features are provided to interconnect the kit 25 and the vest 5. A flexible pad 32 is attached to the back side of the kit with cooperating hook and loop fasteners 34 disposed respectively on the inner side of the pad and on the back side of the kit. Attached to the outer side of the pad 32 are a plurality of MOLLE/PALS webbing members 40 having a sequence of vertically oriented openings or loops 42. In operation, the pad, and the attached kit, are interconnected to the lower portion of the back panel by positioning the plurality of webbing members 40 on the pad into the spaces 21 between the horizontal rows of webbing 16 on the back panel 10, where the loops 42 in the webbing rows on the pad are laterally offset from the loops in the plurality of rows of webbing on the back panel by a distance equal to the thickness of the webbing, as seen in FIGS. 6a and 6b . A pair of retaining straps 51 and 53 are each made to be interlaced sequentially through the offset loops 42 of the pad webbing and the loops 20 of the back panel webbing as shown in FIG. 6a . The retainer straps 51 and 53 and joined at their proximal ends by a base member 55 to form an U shape configuration where the retaining straps are the legs of the U. A release strap 51 is located on the interior side of the back panel 10 and is attached at its distal end to the base member 55. The legs 51 and 53 of the U emerge through openings 58 and 59 to the outside surface of the back panel 10. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the release strap 50 traverses the interior of the upper portion of the back panel and emerges over the shoulder where the pull ring 28 is attached the strap's proximal end. As shown in FIGS. 3a and 3b , the wearer of the vest can exert a pulling force on the pull ring 28 and, as shown in FIG. 5, the release strap lifts the retaining straps 51 and 53 out of their interwoven positions in the loops 20 and 42 of the webs 16 and 40 and the kit 25 drops away from the back panel 10 of the vest. An optional lanyard 30 that is attached to the kit and to the vest or the belt of the wearer prevents the kit from being completely separated from the vest and the wearer. 

I claim:
 1. A quick release system for pouches and accessories carried by a garment having a back panel, a front panel and first and second shoulder panels interconnecting the back panel and the front panel, comprising, a first plurality of vertically spaced apart horizontal rows of webbing material attached at horizontal intervals to the back panel and defining a sequence of open loops, a pad having means for connection to an accessory pouch, a second plurality of vertically spaced apart horizontal rows of webbing material attached to the pad at horizontal intervals and defining a sequence of vertically open loops, whereby the second plurality of rows is adapted to engage the vertical spaces between the first plurality of rows, at least two mutually parallel straight and flexible retaining straps, a base member interconnecting the retaining straps where the retaining straps are each interlaced sequentially through the loops of the first and second plurality of rows of webbing material, a release strap having proximal and distal ends carried within the first shoulder panel and having an exposed pull ring attached to the proximal end and where the distal end is attached to the base member.
 2. The garment of claim 1 where the first and second plurality of webbing material comprises MOLLE/PALS webbing.
 3. A quick release system for pouches and accessories carried by a ballistic vest, comprising, a ballistic vest comprising a back panel, a chest panel and first and second shoulder panels interconnecting the back panel and the chest panel, a first plurality of vertically spaced apart horizontal rows of flexible material attached at intervals to the back panel of the vest defining a sequence of vertically open loops, a pad having means for connection to an accessory pouch, a second plurality of vertically spaced apart horizontal rows of flexible material attached at intervals to the pad and defining a sequence of vertically open loops, whereby the second plurality of rows is adapted to engage the vertical spaces between the first plurality of rows and where the loops in the second plurality of rows are laterally offset from the loops in the first plurality of rows by a distance equal to the thickness of the webbing, a pair of retaining straps comprising the legs of a U and having an interconnecting base member and where the legs are each interlaced sequentially through the offset loops of the first and second plurality of rows, a release strap having proximal and distal ends carried within the first shoulder panel and having an exposed pull ring attached to the proximal end and where the distal end is attached to the base member of the U.
 4. The vest of claim 3 and further including, an accessory pouch connected to the pad.
 5. (canceled) 